Thursday, May 10, 2012
Dropping Gas Prices Don't Change the Facts Switching to Public Transit Saves
Riding public transportation saves individuals on average $9,880 a year
Washington, D.C. – Gas prices may have dropped, but filling up is still costly. End expensive trips to the pump by switching to public transit. According to the American Public Transportation Association's (APTA) May Transit Savings Report, individuals who ride public transportation instead of driving can save, on average, $823 this month, and $9,880 annually. These savings are based on the cost of commuting by public transportation compared to the cost of owning and driving a vehicle which includes the May 9, 2012 average national gas price ($3.75 per gallon- reported by AAA) and the national unreserved monthly parking rate.
APTA releases this monthly Transit Savings Report to examine how an individual in a two-person household can save money by taking public transportation and living with one less car.
The national average for a monthly unreserved parking space in a downtown business district is $155.22, according to the 2011 Colliers International Parking Rate Study. Over the course of a year, parking costs for a vehicle can amount to an average of $1,863.
The top 20 cities with the highest transit ridership are ranked in order of their transit savings based on the purchase of a monthly public transit pass and factoring in local gas prices for May 9, 2012 and the local monthly unreserved parking rate.*
City Monthly Annual
1 New York $1,209 $14,508
2 Boston $1,104 $13,248
3 San Francisco $1,084 $13,013
4 Chicago $988 $11,853
5 Seattle $984 $11,810
6 Philadelphia $977 $11,728
7 Honolulu $945 $11,339
8 Los Angeles $916 $10,987
9 San Diego $875 $10,502
10 Portland $874 $10,483
11 Minneapolis $872 $10,470
12 Denver $851 $10,208
13 Baltimore $844 $10,131
14 Washington, DC $819 $9,825
15 Pittsburgh $805 $9,664
16 Cleveland $803 $9,635
17 Miami $778 $9,332
18 Atlanta $771 $9,252
19 Dallas $763 $9,158
20 Las Vegas $759 $9,103
*Based on gasoline prices as reported by AAA on 5/9/10.
Methodology
APTA calculates the average cost of taking public transit by determining the average monthly transit pass of local public transit agencies across the country. This information is based on the annual APTA fare collection survey and is weighted based on ridership (unlinked passenger trips). The assumption is that a person making a switch to public transportation would likely purchase an unlimited pass on the local transit agency, typically available on a monthly basis.
APTA then compares the average monthly transit fare to the average cost of driving. The cost of driving is calculated using the 2012 AAA average cost of driving formula. AAA cost of driving formula is based on variable costs and fixed costs. The variable costs include the cost of gas, maintenance and tires. The fixed costs include insurance, license registration, depreciation and finance charges. The comparison also uses the average mileage of a mid-size auto at 23.1 miles per gallon and the price for self-serve regular unleaded gasoline as recorded by AAA on May 9, 2012 at $3.75 per gallon. The analysis also assumes that a person will drive an average of 15,000 miles per year. The savings assume a person in two-person household lives with one less car.
In determining the cost of parking, APTA uses the data from the 2011 Colliers International Parking Rate Study for monthly unreserved parking rates for the United States.
To calculate your individual savings with or without car ownership, go to www.publictransportation.org.
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The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) is a nonprofit international association of more than 1,500 public and private member organizations, engaged in the areas of bus, paratransit, light rail, commuter rail, subways, waterborne passenger services, and high-speed rail. This includes: transit systems; planning, design, construction, and finance firms; product and service providers; academic institutions; transit associations and state departments of transportation. More than 90 percent of the people using public transportation in the United States and Canada are served by APTA member systems.
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